Salvaging apparatus



I Aug. 16, 1927. LOTZ SALVAGiNG APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 7, 1925 Au 16 Q g 1927 H. LOTZ SALVAGING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. "7; 1925 Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

HENRY LOTZ, or BOSTON, massacnusnrrs SALVAGING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 7, 1925. Serial No.'67,663.

This invention relates to salvaging apparatus and it is primarily an' object of the invention to provide means for raising sunken vessels and preferably submarines.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus, of this kind consisting of a vessel provided with means to connect the same with the sunken vessel to be lifted, the vessel of the apparatus being partially submerged so that when permitted to rise, pulling force will be imposed upon the sunken vessel to initially lift the same and more particularly when held by mud or the like upon the sea bottom.

The inventionconsists in-the detailsof construction and in the combination and arrangement of theseveral parts of my improved salvaging apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained and the: device rendered simpler, less expenslve and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter'more fully set forth. r

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood; I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation and of a diagrammatic character illustrating an apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

' Figure 2 is a fragmentary viewin top plan of a saddle adapted to be employed .in

connection with the vessel to be lifted;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the float adapted for use in connection with the outerend portion of a hoisting cable;

Figure 4 is a view in top plan and of a diagrammatic character of the vessel employed in connection with my improved apparatus;

Figure 5 is aview in side elevation and of a diagrammatic character illustrating a sunken vessel with the marker buoy carried by said vessel indicated by broken lines when released;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the means herein employed whereby the hoisting line is operatively engaged with the sunken vessel to be lifted.

My improved apparatus as herein set forth is particularly adapted for use in connection with sunken submarines and comprises a vessel V of a displacement materially in ex cess of the displacement of submarines of various types. Th s vessel V is constructed somewhat in the fashion of a submarine so that upon the proper pumping operation it may be caused to partially submerge or lower in the water as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1 so that when the water is pumped ut to'permit rising of the vessel V, the

resultant force may be effectively employed to iinposepull upon the sunken vessel A to initially lift the same and'particularly when said sunken vessel Ais held by mud or the like to the sea bottom.

The vessel V fore and aft and at opposite sides of the center of its beam is provided therethrough with the vertically disposed ports or openings 1 and mounted upon the deck of the vessel immediatelyadjacent to each of said openings 1 is a winding apparatus W of anydesired type. i 1

The submarine orkindred vesselA in its structure preferably embodies a saddle S of a type particularly illustrated in Figure 2 and which is disposed below the engine room of the vessel A which is generally midship. Each end portion of the saddle S is continued by a cable C or the like of'requisite strength, which is secured to the shank 2 of an anchor member M. This shankQ terminates above the subdeck 3 of the vessel A and-the cable C is directed through an open- .ing 4 in such subdeck and through a stufling box 5 whereby leakage through said openinget is prevented. 'The shank 2 extends above the top deck 6 and is provided with a spear head 7. The apex portion of this head 7 has secured thereto a light line 8 which is continued within a housing 9 ,in the substructure of the vessel A and attached to a marker buoy 10. V y

' The members M are positioned in longitudinal alignment at the central portion of the vessel A and a sufficient amount of each of the lines 8 is coiled or otherwise contained within the housing 9 so that when the vessel A sinks, the marker buoy 10 will readily rise to the sea level to give proper indication of the location of such sunken vessel. The vessel V is brought in close proximity to the floating marker 10 and a lifting cable 11 coacting with each of the winding apparatus W is forced downwardly through the adjacent opening 1, said extremity of the cable 11 having affixed thereto a float 12 so that when said float passes out of the lower end of the opening 1 it will rise to the surface of the water adjacent to the vessel V. The float is then engaged with a grapple or other suitable implement by a member of the crew and after the float has been freed from the cable 11, said cable issecured to a relatively heavy ring 14. The raised extremities of the lines 8 are then pulled inboard and each of said lines is threaded through a ring 1 1 which, when released, will drop down along a line 8 and automatically engage with the spear head 7 of a member M whereby a lifting cable 11 is effectively secured or anchored to the sunken vessel. The vessel V is then partially submerged and after each of the apparatus V? has been operated to make the associated lifting cable 11 taut, the vessel V is caused to rise and the pull of such rise as transmitted to the sunken vessel A through the cables 11 will impart an initial lifting movement to the sunken vessel and which is of especial importance in the event such sunken vessel is held by mud at the sea bottom. After this initial lifting of the sunken vessel, the same is further lifted upon requisite operation of each of the apparatus vV. When the sunken vessel has been lifted to a desired height, the vessel V may be caused to travel to port to bring the sunken vessel into dry dock or other means may be then employed to engage and further liftthe sunken vessel to the surface.

By having the openings 1 arranged at opposite sides of the center of the beam, the vessel V may be positioned substantially directly above the sunken vessel A so that when the apparatus are in operation a substantially direct pull will be imposed upon the sunken vessel and thus materially facilitate the desired lifting operation with the liability of the vessel V turning over eliminated. v

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a salvaging apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof :and for this reason I no not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts vided with an opening, a saddle underlying the midship structure, each end of the saddle being provided with a flexible member extending up through an opening in the subdeek, attaching members each comprising a shank extending through the top deck and secured to one of said flexible members at a point between the top deck and the subdeek, said shank extending above the top deck, the portion of the shank above the top deck being provided with a spear head, the apex of which being upwardly disposed, :a lead line secured to the apex portion of the spear head, and a buoyant member. connected to the lead line.

2. In combination with a vessel provided with a deck, a subdeek and a midship struc-,

tending up through an opening in the subdeck, attaching members each comprising a shank extending through the top deck and secured to one of said flexible members at a point between the top deck and the subdeck, said shank extending above the top deck, the portion of the shank above the top deck being provided with a spear head, the apex of which being upwardly disposed, a lead line secured to the apex .portion of the spear head, a buoyant member connected to the lead line, and a stuffing box carriedby the subdeek through which the flexible member extends, said stuffing box preventing leakage through the opening in the subdeek.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

-H'ENRY LOTZ. 

